Computer Power on/off restart switch

[themultimeter]

Good evening. I know there is product out there that you can shut off a computer using a button. I want to create a center console so i can shut off multi computers with said type of button.  Has anyone have DIY solution, or can point me to a starting point. I know there was this option back in the 90's - 2000's. I know if i had a 3d printer i could create something that would work....  

 

Thanks for reading this and the replays.

 

[mariushm]

You can turn a computer off through hardware (by pressing the power button or by simulating the button press through hardware) , or through software.

 

If you want through software, you'd have to make a little application and install it on each computer you want to control and have this application run in background listing for the shut down command. When you press your physical button, a microcontroller or something connected to your local network connects to each computer's application through the network and sends the shut down commands and then the application running on each computer broadcasts to Windows the shut down command  and Windows starts shutting down. 

 

If you want to shut down computers through hardware, you can hook into each computer's on/off  button on the case.  In the ATX standard, a short press on the case power button means  go in stand-by / sleep mode (if enabled in bios) which tells the operating system to suspend/put to sleep applications and save everything to wake up on the next short press  , and  there's the long press of power button (at least 5 seconds press) which forces a full shot down, going around the operating system (the operating system isn't even notified, to the operating system it looks like a power loss, like user pulled the power cord out the AC socket)

 

So you could basically hook into the two wires going from the push button on the case to the front panel connector, and use a mechanical relay on each computer to connect those two wires together for a short period to put the PC to stand-by/sleep or for at least 5 seconds to force the PC to shut down.

 

Without going inside the computer case, you could use a mechanical relay to turn on and off the actual AC power going to the computer's power supply, but you'll then be dealing with mains voltage, which is a bit more dangerous. You'd basically make a small box that would sit between the computer power cable and the AC socket with a mechanical relay that would disconnect both active and neutral wires when you want the power to be cut off. 

 

 

[Echothedolpin]

I mean are you asking about a way to do it in software or a power strip?

[themultimeter]

9 hours ago, mariushm said:

You can turn a computer off through hardware (by pressing the power button or by simulating the button press through hardware) , or through software.

 

If you want through software, you'd have to make a little application and install it on each computer you want to control and have this application run in background listing for the shut down command. When you press your physical button, a microcontroller or something connected to your local network connects to each computer's application through the network and sends the shut down commands and then the application running on each computer broadcasts to Windows the shut down command  and Windows starts shutting down. 

 

If you want to shut down computers through hardware, you can hook into each computer's on/off  button on the case.  In the ATX standard, a short press on the case power button means  go in stand-by / sleep mode (if enabled in bios) which tells the operating system to suspend/put to sleep applications and save everything to wake up on the next short press  , and  there's the long press of power button (at least 5 seconds press) which forces a full shot down, going around the operating system (the operating system isn't even notified, to the operating system it looks like a power loss, like user pulled the power cord out the AC socket)

 

So you could basically hook into the two wires going from the push button on the case to the front panel connector, and use a mechanical relay on each computer to connect those two wires together for a short period to put the PC to stand-by/sleep or for at least 5 seconds to force the PC to shut down.

 

Without going inside the computer case, you could use a mechanical relay to turn on and off the actual AC power going to the computer's power supply, but you'll then be dealing with mains voltage, which is a bit more dangerous. You'd basically make a small box that would sit between the computer power cable and the AC socket with a mechanical relay that would disconnect both active and neutral wires when you want the power to be cut off. 

 

 

I have 3 computes, two of which i have momentary buttons already setup for them. This allows me to put the system in standby from arms reach on my desk.  The 3rd systems has a wonky mobo that has issues coming out of sleep. So i have to completely shut that one off (faster option - the mobo was from ally express.). This system does not have a remote power on swich (which will replace the button on the face of the case) yet. I want to combine all 3 systems to a nice neat location, so it be like a switch panel kinda of look. 

[Blue4130]

7 hours ago, themultimeter said:

I have 3 computes, two of which i have momentary buttons already setup for them. This allows me to put the system in standby from arms reach on my desk.  The 3rd systems has a wonky mobo that has issues coming out of sleep. So i have to completely shut that one off (faster option - the mobo was from ally express.). This system does not have a remote power on swich (which will replace the button on the face of the case) yet. I want to combine all 3 systems to a nice neat location, so it be like a switch panel kinda of look. 

So like these? Run out of the case to a panel of some sort?

[themultimeter]

4 hours ago, Blue4130 said:

So like these? Run out of the case to a panel of some sort?

yes. Then built into a box or panel that i can attach to my desk. 

[Blue4130]

29 minutes ago, themultimeter said:

yes. Then built into a box or panel that i can attach to my desk. 

I'd just make my own. In fact that is what I did on my last TV computer. It's just a momentary switch.

[LogicalDrm]

On 5/24/2025 at 6:03 PM, themultimeter said:

I have 3 computes, two of which i have momentary buttons already setup for them. This allows me to put the system in standby from arms reach on my desk.  The 3rd systems has a wonky mobo that has issues coming out of sleep. So i have to completely shut that one off (faster option - the mobo was from ally express.). This system does not have a remote power on swich (which will replace the button on the face of the case) yet. I want to combine all 3 systems to a nice neat location, so it be like a switch panel kinda of look. 

Assuming you are already using remote controls from Silverstone which operate by RF or Wifi (https://www.silverstonetek.com/en/product/expansion-cards/?filter=Power_OnOff_addon_cards) or something similar. If I would have better knowledge on electronics and wanted to do something like this, I would probably just cannibalize those Silverstone remotes and attach them to single unit.

 

I have been using that RF one for couple years now as my power button is located in a place where I can't easily reach it.